Beijing residents have ranked Australia as their top choice for an overseas holiday, followed by Singapore and Thailand, according to a new survey by Australia's tourism authority.

Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) regional general manager Richard Beere said the survey provided a "great vote of confidence" from one of Australia's most important inbound tourism markets.

"Importantly, Australia was ranked the number one ideal destination, as well as the destination travellers from Beijing were most likely to travel to on their next overseas holiday," he said.

The newly released survey of 550 people, which was conducted last month in Beijing, showed about 34 percent of respondents rated Australia as the country they were considering visiting for their next holiday.

Singapore was runner up with 25 percent, then Thailand with 24 percent, followed by the United States, Malaysia and France.

Last year about 163,000 Chinese visitors travelled to Australia -- a 75 percent increase on 1999.

By 2005 that figure is expected to jump by 168 per cent to over 430,000 and by 2012 the number of Chinese visitors arriving in Australia is forecast to dwarf all others, with a huge 1.4 million.

But Beere warned Australia, which enjoys an advantage by having China's Approved Destination Status (ADS) for tourists, would face competition from other destinations for the lucrative Chinese market.

"At present, Australia has a distinct advantage over other destinations," he told reporters.

"However this may be short-lived. Other destinations, including the European nations and the United States, are working towards receiving ADS, which will significantly increase the competition for the Chinese travelling dollar."

( People's Daily May 29, 2002)